Outgoing Maine Governor Paul LePage fired another parting shot at the LGBT community by asking the US Supreme Court to rule that companies can fire workers based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Earlier this week, LePage signed onto an amicus brief filed by 15 other right-wing officials asking SCOTUS to overturn an appeals court decision against a Michigan funeral home that fired a transgender employee. He joined Republican governors of Kentucky and Mississippi, and attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
According to an August 27 Portland Press Herald report, the brief claims “that Congress did not intend for the ban on sex discrimination in Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to cover bias against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender employees. That law, they claim, was intended to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex, not gender identity. … Laws in 20 states, including Maine, ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
On August 29, the Press Herald went on to report responses from candidates vying to fill LePage’s seat as governor in the November 6 Midterm Elections:
“Once again [LePage] is sending a terrible message to the country that Maine is a place that is not accepting of anyone who is different,” said [Alan Caron, one of the two Independent candidates]. “That message is killing our economy because we need people of all kinds. It appears the governor is more interested in being part of a far-right national agenda than properly serving Maine’s needs.”
Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, the Democratic nominee for governor, also criticized LePage for joining the amicus brief. …
“I strongly disagree with Gov. LePage and believe that the law is both clear and right: No person should be fired because of their gender identity or sexual orientation,” Mills said. “As governor, I will fight to ensure that all Maine people are treated fairly and equally and with dignity and respect. Anything less than that is wrong and out of step with Maine values.”
Lauren LePage, daughter of Gov. LePage and campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial candidate Shawn Moody, who is also owner of Moody’s Collision Centers, did not comment specifically on her father’s decision to join the amicus brief, but noted that Moody’s does not discriminate against LGBT workers.
“The Moody’s business does not base personnel decisions on sexual orientation or gender identity,” she said. “It’s important for employers to have standard, consistent interpretation of laws so they can be adequately enforced. The Maine state law is very clear, and as governor Shawn will enforce all of Maine’s laws.”
[The other] Independent gubernatorial candidate, Terry Hayes, also did not directly comment on LePage’s action but voiced her support for equal protection of all workers.
“How we treat one another matters,” Hayes said. “I support nondiscrimination laws that protect LGBT Mainers and Americans. As governor, I will oppose legislation to undermine Maine’s nondiscrimination laws.”
